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Reopen Service-connected Claim

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jstone1950

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jstone1950

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While in vietnam (69-70), I was diagnosed with gastroenteritis and tension headaches. Subsquently, I caught hepititus A in Vietnam. Over another five year period while still on active duty, I was diagnosed on 3 other occasions with gastroenteritis and eventually remote depression. Since active duty in 1977, I've had many bouts of nausea and stomach problems. As recent as 2007 by a private gastro dr., I was diagnosed with evidence of corrosive gastroenteritis, GERD and acid reflux Grade II. Further, I was diagnosed last year by a VA psychologist with major depression. I made a claim for all the above issues in 1994 and was denied. 8 months ago i submitted a claim to reopen all these issues with new and material evidence (as stated above - private dr. and recent diag of depression); however, i haven't been scheduled for any C&Ps. Been told by VA that my claim has been in the rating board since Feb 18, 08. Does anybody have a take on any issues like this and/or my chances of this claim being reopened and approved or denied?

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jstone1950 Contributor

jstone1950

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While in vietnam (69-70), I was diagnosed with gastroenteritis and tension headaches. Subsquently, I caught hepititus A in Vietnam. Over another five year period while still on active duty, I was diagnosed on 3 other occasions with gastroenteritis and eventually remote depression. Since active duty in 1977, I've had many bouts of nausea and stomach problems. As recent as 2007 by a private gastro dr., I was diagnosed with evidence of corrosive gastroenteritis, GERD and acid reflux Grade II. Further, I was diagnosed last year by a VA psychologist with major depression. I made a claim for all the above issues in 1994 and was denied. 8 months ago i submitted a claim to reopen all these issues with new and material evidence (as stated above - private dr. and recent diag of depression); however, i haven't been scheduled for any C&Ps. Been told by VA that my claim has been in the rating board since Feb 18, 08. Does anybody have a take on any issues like this and/or my chances of this claim being reopened and approved or denied?
Forgot to indicate that I'm 0% for residuals of hepititus A.
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stillhere Veteran

stillhere

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You I assume are service connected for something since you are using the VAHC. I have a claim in right now for increase and am also under VA care for them. The RO did not ask for a C&P on either of the conditions that I wanted to reopen and claim increase but did on my DB2 increase request. I have been told that if the VA does not call for a c+p it could go either way: 1. they have all the info they need from your VA care or 2. they are not reopening your claim base on the info they already have.

I would bet in your case they are looking at some way to stall you since you dropped this once before after being denied. You do have the continouse doctor coverage this time around so that is good. Try and get the VA doctor to write a letter for you and if that dosen't go then go to a private doc out side VA and get him to write a letter.

Good Luck with your claim.

Thank you for your service!

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Pete53 Grand Master

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Good Luck being treated at VA is a plus in my opinion.

Veterans deserve real choice for their health care.

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stillhere Veteran

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by the way who at VA told you your claim was at the rater? Iris, 800# or did you actually go to the VARO, just wondering on this because a lot of time we vets get the wrong kind of info from some of the sources VA has us use.

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jstone1950 Contributor

jstone1950

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by the way who at VA told you your claim was at the rater? Iris, 800# or did you actually go to the VARO, just wondering on this because a lot of time we vets get the wrong kind of info from some of the sources VA has us use.

i got a reply back from IRIS that my claim was in review.

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stillhere Veteran

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Did it say at the rater? I would question them as to why a decision has not been made since it has been there so long. It does not hurt to ask a follow up question to get a little bit more clarity on where your claim status stands.

The Iris responce I have felt are better than the 800# but sometimes I Iris and call and get to totally different answers so I go fishing.

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